If you are using Bluehost WordPress hosting and you are having trouble sending emails from your website, this article will help you fix the issue. You will learn about the common causes of email sending problems, how to troubleshoot them, and how to ensure reliable email delivery with Bluehost WordPress.
Common issues with Bluehost WordPress email sending
Some of the common issues that can prevent your Bluehost WordPress emails from sending are:
- Incorrect email settings in Bluehost or your contact form plugin
- Spam filters blocking or rejecting your emails
- PHP mail() function not working properly on your server
- SMTP authentication errors or configuration issues
Why are Bluehost WordPress emails not sending?
The main reason why your Bluehost WordPress emails are not sending is that your hosting server is not configured correctly to use the PHP mail() function, which is the default method for sending emails in WordPress. The PHP mail() function is not very reliable and often fails to pass the spam tests of many email service providers, such as Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, etc. This means that your emails may not even reach the spam folder of your recipients, let alone their inbox.
Another reason why your Bluehost WordPress emails are not sending is that you have not set up your email settings correctly in Bluehost or your contact form plugin. For example, you may have entered an invalid or mismatched email address, name, or password. Or you may have forgotten to enable SMTP authentication or encryption for your email account.
How to troubleshoot Bluehost WordPress email sending issues
The first step to troubleshoot your Bluehost WordPress email sending issues is to check your email settings in Bluehost and your contact form plugin. Here are some things to look for:
- Make sure you have entered a valid email address that matches your domain name (such as [email protected]) in both Bluehost and your contact form plugin.
- Make sure you have entered a correct and case-sensitive password for your email account in both Bluehost and your contact form plugin.
- Make sure you have enabled SMTP authentication and encryption (usually TLS) for your email account in both Bluehost and your contact form plugin.
- Make sure you have entered the correct SMTP host address, port number, and encryption method provided by Bluehost in both Bluehost and your contact form plugin.
You can find the SMTP settings for your Bluehost email account by logging into your Bluehost account, clicking on Email & Office, selecting Manage next to your domain name, and then clicking on Connect Devices. You will see a list of options for different email clients and devices. Choose Other (Manual Setup) and copy the SMTP settings from there.
The second step to troubleshoot your Bluehost WordPress email sending issues is to install and activate the WP Mail SMTP plugin on your WordPress site. This plugin allows you to send emails from your WordPress site using SMTP instead of the PHP mail() function. SMTP is a more reliable and secure method for sending emails that can bypass the spam filters of most email service providers.
To install and activate the WP Mail SMTP plugin, go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard, search for WP Mail SMTP, and click on Install Now. After the installation is complete, click on Activate.
The third step to troubleshoot your Bluehost WordPress email sending issues is to configure the WP Mail SMTP plugin settings. To do this, go to Settings > WP Mail SMTP in your WordPress dashboard. You will see a screen like this:
Here are some things to do:
- Enter the same email address that you used in Bluehost and your contact form plugin in the From Email field.
- Enter the name of your website or business in the From Name field.
- Select Other SMTP as the mailer option.
- Enter the same SMTP settings that you used in Bluehost and your contact form plugin in the SMTP Host, Encryption, Port fields.
- Enter the same email address and password that you used in Bluehost and your contact form plugin in the SMTP Username and Password fields.
- Click on Save Settings at the bottom of the page.
Step-by-step guide to fixing Bluehost WordPress emails not sending
To summarize, here are the steps to fix your Bluehost WordPress emails not sending issue:
- Check your email settings in Bluehost and your contact form plugin.
- Install and activate the WP Mail SMTP plugin on your WordPress site.
- Configure the WP Mail SMTP plugin settings with the same email address, password, and SMTP settings that you used in Bluehost and your contact form plugin.
- Test your email sending by sending a test email from the WP Mail SMTP plugin settings page or from your contact form on your website.
Alternative solutions for reliable email delivery with Bluehost WordPress
If you are still having trouble sending emails from your Bluehost WordPress site, or if you want to improve your email deliverability and avoid spam issues, you may want to consider using a third-party email service instead of your Bluehost email account. Some of the popular email services that you can use with WordPress are:
- Brevo: A cloud-based email service that integrates with WordPress and offers fast and reliable email delivery, advanced analytics, and easy setup. You can use Brevo for free for up to 10,000 emails per month.
- Gmail (G Suite): A professional email service that allows you to use your own domain name (such as [email protected]) and access the features of Gmail, such as spam protection, security, and storage. You can use Gmail (G Suite) for $6 per user per month.
- Microsoft 365: A business email service that allows you to use your own domain name (such as [email protected]) and access the features of Outlook, such as calendar, contacts, and tasks. You can use Microsoft 365 for $5 per user per month.
- Amazon SES: A low-cost email service that allows you to send and receive emails using your own domain name (such as [email protected]) and access the features of Amazon Web Services, such as scalability, reliability, and security. You can use Amazon SES for $0.10 per 1,000 emails.
To use any of these email services with your Bluehost WordPress site, you will need to set up an account with them, verify your domain name and email address, and configure the WP Mail SMTP plugin settings with the appropriate SMTP settings provided by them.
Best practices for maintaining email deliverability with Bluehost WordPress
Regardless of which email service you use with your Bluehost WordPress site, there are some best practices that you should follow to maintain your email deliverability and avoid spam issues. Here are some tips:
- Use a valid and consistent email address that matches your domain name (such as [email protected]) in all your email settings and communications.
- Use a clear and descriptive subject line that summarizes the purpose of your email and catches the attention of your recipients.
- Use a personalized and friendly greeting and signature that addresses your recipients by name and includes your website or business name.
- Use a clear and concise writing style that conveys your message in a simple and direct way. Avoid using jargon, slang, or excessive punctuation.
- Use a professional and appropriate tone that matches the context and audience of your email. Avoid using sarcasm, humor, or emotions that may be misunderstood or offend your recipients.
- Use a responsive and mobile-friendly design that adapts to different screen sizes and devices. Avoid using large images, attachments, or HTML elements that may slow down or break your email layout.
- Use a call-to-action that invites your recipients to take a specific action or respond to your email. Avoid using vague or generic phrases like “click here” or “learn more”.
- Use an unsubscribe link that allows your recipients to opt-out of receiving future emails from you. Avoid hiding or omitting this link from your emails.
- Monitor your email performance and feedback by using analytics tools, such as Brevo, Gmail (G Suite), Microsoft 365, or Amazon SES. Track metrics such as open rate, click rate, bounce rate, spam rate, etc. and adjust your email strategy accordingly.
Conclusion
This article imparts knowledge on resolving the Bluehost WordPress email dispatch issues. Solutions include scrutiny of email configurations in both Bluehost and the respective contact form plugin. Additionally, installing and activating WP Mail SMTP plugin in WordPress figures into the solution. You’ll then synchronize the settings of WP Mail SMTP with the same email, password, and SMTP used in Bluehost and your plugin. The final step involves testing your email dispatch either through the WP Mail SMTP settings page or your website’s contact form.
You also learned about some alternative solutions for reliable email delivery with Bluehost WordPress, such as Brevo, Gmail (G Suite), Microsoft 365, or Amazon SES. And you learned about some best practices for maintaining email deliverability and avoiding spam issues with Bluehost WordPress.
We hope this article helped you fix the Bluehost WordPress emails not sending issue and improve your email communication with your website visitors and customers. If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know in the comments below. Thank you for reading!🙏
